|
The Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) belongs to Poaceae (the Grass family). It is thought to be native to eastern Asia. It is an improved variety of "Green bristle grass" (Setaria viridis) and it has been cultivated from long ago in China. It was introduced into Japan in the Johmon period (17000-2300 years ago). It is one of Chinese five cereals, also it was one of mainly cereals in Japan. There are two species ("Oo-awa" and "Ko-awa"), and "Oo-awa" is mainly cultivated in Japan. The cylindrical spikes are borne at the top of stems from August to September. The seeds are used as ingredients of rice porridge or cake, and also as a feed of pet birds. The varieties in the 4th and bottom of the photo are "Togakushi-zairai". In Chinese, it is called "粱" (liang). It is a C4 plant (Plants with C4-type photosynthesis).
In Korean, it is called "cho" (조). Glutinous millet (mochi-awa) is called "cha-jo" (찰조), and "cha" (찰) means "stickiness" or "chewy texture". In addition, Korean "glutinous millet" comes in two varieties: "yellow glutinous millet" (hwang-cha-jo: 황찰조) and "bluish glutinous millet" (cheong-cha-jo: 청찰조).
|